Haunted Yorkshire

They're Closer Than You Think!

Leeds Sightings

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”

Could there be a world that lies beyond our beliefs?

These are some of the reported sightings and stories of ordinary people, who believe they have had an extraordinary experience!

Some names have been changed for the purpose of this website!

Index

Index of listings

Please scroll down the page.

Woodhouse Square

Abbey Inn, Newlay

Armley Prison

Armley Mill

Bond Street Shopping Centre

Cardigan Arms Public House

Carnegie College

City Palace of Varieties (theatre)

Copperfields College School

East Ardsley Conservative Club

Golden Lion public house, North Street

Kirkstall Abbey

Leeds General Infirmary

Old Lewis's building, The Headrow

Potternewton Hall

St James's University Hospital

Temple Newsam House

Thackray Medical Museum

The House of Hassetts

Town Hall The Birdwell

Woodhouse Square

The ghost of a Victorian lady looking for two children who died in the former nursery room as been reported on numerous occasions as footsteps, strange noises and doors opening have been heard.

Abbey Inn

This pub is said to be also haunted by a grey lady, and a cloaked figure (who could be a monk connected to the abbey that once stood here) and a man wearing a Guy Fawkes-style hat Even though the only recent activity is said to be the sound of female laughter coming from the cellar.

Armley Prison

A former employee of the prison reported seeing a prison officer in Victorian a uniform wandering around the corridors; this was followed by the sounds of clanging chains. Strangely, the most paranormally active areas being the new wings which were constructed over executed prisoner's graves. Inmates have reported a phantom that manifests as a light that moves around the cells.

Armley Mill

Brief History Armley Mills in Leeds, West Yorkshire, is an eerie looking building that was first built back in the 16th Century. It wasn’t until 1788 that the building became what was then, the world’s largest woollen mill. In 1805 the mill was almost completely destroyed by fire. However, the owner Benjamin Gott ordered the rebuild of the mill using mainly fireproof materials such as brick and iron wherever possible. It’s Gott’s mill that you see to this day.

During the cotton boom in England many mills employed young cheap labour, in some instances children as young as six, Armley was no different. Conditions were really poor to say the least, and young children were often the worse treated, working very long hours in horrible conditions, resulted in many deaths from exhaustion and machine accidents.

In 1969 the mill closed it’s doors to the cotton trade, due to the world’s shift over to a lot of man-made fibres. Due to the building’s historic importance, the site was purchased by Leeds Council who then re-opened the building in 1982, as what is now the Leeds Industrial Museum.

Due to the terrible history that resides within this building, it’s very little wonder there have been many reports of paranormal experiences over the years.

Perhaps the most common reported experience of all, is doors slamming shut and shooting open. Another quite common report is being pushed rather forcefully by unseen hands. The ghost of a man in a top hat and cape has also been seen on occasion. It may be him that staff and visitors have also heard whispering in their ears.

Other phenomena includes:

· The apparition of a Victorian woman in a black dress, who is believed to be searching for her lost child.

· Poltergeist activity; things such as cotton bobbins being thrown across the room and at people.

· The feeling of tugging on ones clothes, as though a small child is trying to get your attention.

· And also, sounds of crying can be heard that appear to be from a young boy.

Bond Street Shopping Centre

A ghost dressed in a muddy green jerkin and brown trousers as been seen by a cobbler and a member of the cleaning staff have seen the James' sorry looking ghost in one of the loading bays.

Cardigan Arms public House

A ghost of an old lady appears in the ladies toilets, she is described as having long, straight grey / white hair. The figure was briefly spotted in the reflection of a mirror by one witness, while others have caught a glimpse of a figure from the corner of their eye or felt uneasy in the environment.

Carnegie College

A man took his own life when he realised that his mistress would never love him. So distraught of this he threw himself down the spiral staircase where his body was later found by a member of staff. Many people have reported seeing the spectre at the bottom of the stairs where he died.

City Palace of varieties

There are two ghosts that reside here - one plays the piano late at night, and the other is an unknown lady who brings with her a zone of cold as she passes through.

Copperfields College School

Minor poltergeist-like activity has been reported here, then a number of students and a dinner lady watched a man in a checked shirt and jeans sitting in the main hall wave and vanish without warning.

East Ardsley Conservative Club

This apparition of a man manifested in the doorway of the club - it could be seen quite clearly on the CCTV, but not directly by human eyes. The entity vanished after several minutes, though made a very brief reappearance a month later. Many believe that this is one of the old patrons revisiting the venue.

Golden Lion Public House

A gentleman dressed in Victorian attire is often seen walking around the cellar of the pub, until he’s spotted and then disappears. Also the upstairs is said to be haunted by an old woman who appeared in the children's bedroom at night.

Kirkstall Abbey

The abbey grounds are home to a white female entity named Mary who witnessed her lover committing murder and turned him in. Also the former Abbot of the abbey walks the area that has been converted into a museum. It is more usual to hear the spirit shuffling around than see him.

Leeds General Infirmary

An employee at this hospital heard five voices and footsteps rushing down a corridor, but could see nothing - there was a gust of wind as the invisible people passed.

Old Lewis building

A labourer working in the building with a colleague photographed a misty 'figure' with his camera phone. Another worker on site claimed to have seen something from the corner of his eye, though when he quickly turned, it had vanished.

Potter Newton Hall

The ghostly carriage pulled by a team of four horses is often seen leaving the hall in a hurry.

St James University Hospital

A member of staff would often use a lift in the building, sharing with occupants who would travel upwards only to vanish just before the doors opened.

Temple Newsam House

Around since the time of the Domesday Book, this grand Tudor mansion has quite the colourful history and more than a few spooky tales to tell. A long-standing resident in the grand building, so much so she has her own room named after her, is the ghost known as the Blue Lady of Temple Newsam. Robbed of her pearl necklace by highwaymen when returning home, Mary Ingram (the Blue Lady) descended into madness convinced she had somehow lost them. It is said she can still be seen roaming the house and brushing past people on stairways still on the hunt for her belongings. Ghosts of monks in brown robes, a Knight’s Templar and a small boy, along with hair-raising screams from the South Wing, are among some of the other haunted happenings in the house.

Thackray Medical Museum

The Thackray Medical Museum, a former workhouse and asylum, has had so many deaths on its premises that it’s come to be known as quite the hub of paranormal activity. Many a curious haunted happening has occurred in this historical building, with unexplained noises, coin throwing, ominous moving shadows and chilly temperature just a few of the ghostly activities that have gone on inside its vast and oppressive walls. It’s no wonder then that the former asylum has become a popular haunt for ghost hunting, with events held regularly throughout the year for those bold enough to brave it. With its impressively authentic Victorian street, complete with pitch black winding walkways, its operating theatre, and other spooky exhibits.

The House of Hassetts

Although paranormal activity has ceased, this location had strong unexplained activity for a period of 20 years. It was discovered in a documentary named Haunted Homes.

It belonged to the Hassetts family, who claimed to have reported strange noises, saw hanging pictures falling, and felt cold spots. The dogs also refused to go into the dark cellar.

A black shadow had been seen walking in the house numerous times. It was seen “watching” the couple on the bed-side and even violently shook someone out of bed.

Town Hall The Birdwell

There is a small prison under the town hall where a man named Peace was held awaiting his trial, where he was later executed for a double murder. His ghost is said to still remain within his cell.